11 Movies Which Got Geography Completely Wrong

11. Godzilla (2014)

The MUTO grabs a Russian submarine and takes it to a deserted jungle in the mountains above Honolulu to munch down its reactor. Army commandos converge on the spot. Godzilla uses his built-in MUTO radar to start heading toward Waikiki, passing (dramatically) under the US Navy task force on his way. The commandos and Air Force aircraft engage the MUTO, and it responds by knocking out power on the island using its EMP burst, including the airport, where Ford Brody is trying to catch a flight home. A tsunami plows through Waikiki, heralding the arrival of Godzilla. The power comes back on, and Brody€™s tram starts moving again. The MUTO suddenly appears, destroying the tram. The MUTO then proceeds to wreak havoc on the airport. Godzilla appears and engages the MUTO. Succeeding scenes show the two battling it out in Waikiki.
First of all, the only place a MUTO could hide and still be that close to Honolulu is the Honolulu Watershed Forest Reserve, about seven miles from the airport. Yet when the MUTO fires off his EMP, it appears to be less than a mile from the airport and almost overhead. Brody looks up and sees the explosion about a mile above him as his tram stops.
The power goes back on (strange, as an EMP destroys all electronics, not just knocks them out temporarily), and the tram starts up again. Brody looks over and sees the MUTO crossing the train tracks, destroying them in the process. The MUTO then proceeds to start tossing things around, destroying airplanes. Godzilla shows up, apparently having made the six-mile trek from Waikiki to the airport and engages the MUTO. After the two have done their damage, they move on. The beach in front of the Hilton Hawaiian Village is set up as an aid station. So, if Honolulu and Waikiki are that destroyed, how did Brody make it the eight miles (unlike Godzilla, he can€™t take the direct route) to Waikiki? Wouldn€™t the authorities have set up an aid station at the airport?
Contributor
Contributor

Mr. Thomas is primarily a graphic artist for the San Antonio Express-News, but also finds time to write the DVD Extra blog for the paper’s website.